Aquino adviser denies mauling

TUAO, Cagayan: A Malacañang official has denied mauling two barangay officials here on Monday’s barangay elections.

Secretary Manuel Mamba, head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, said it is actually the handiwork of his political detractors who are linking him to the non-existent mauling incident in their hometown of Tuao.

“This is ridiculous. Why should I maul barangay officials in my own town. I can’t remember hitting a townmate on Monday. This is all lies being peddled by our political rivals,” he said.

Mamba said “our rival political camp is now like a sinking ship who also wants to pull us down and could even afford to go as far as fabricating issues against us.”

Meanwhile, police records do not show any mauling incident linking Mamba or anyone from their camp on Monday.

Police said there was no report or incident in polling places or any complaint of any person being manhandled.

”We visited all the polling precincts during the election but there were no reports of any mauling incident. Actually, the election [in Tuao town]was generally peaceful,” police said.